My Big Fat PMC 2009 Wrap-Up Post

Here we are, more than a month after the actual PMC 2009 ride and I'm just now writing my wrap-up note. As a firm believer that procrastination is key to the creative process, the lateness of this post simply proves the depth of my convictions! ;-) But before I start some rambling travelogue, I'd like to stop and thank each of you for your encouragement and support for this (and previous) PMC rides. The funds that you help us raise for cancer research and treatment are more important now than ever before. Even in the economic circumstances of this last year, the level and consistency of everyone's generosity overwhelmed me. So first, last and always: thank you.

2009 marked my sixth PMC ride, and was in many ways similar to my previous rides... It seems there is always have some mechanical issue with my bike just before every PMC. This year was no different: my rear wheel had gotten a noticeable warp in it and also developed a chronic slow leak in New Hampshire on the week prior to the ride. When we got home the Thursday evening before the PMC and I went to replace the leaky tube, I discovered I had plenty of tubes, but all wrong sizes. Fortunately, I was able to get the wheel trued up and picked up some tubes at a local bike shop the next day. (And as it turned out, I never bothered to change the tube -- I just pumped it up really high at about every other water stop that weekend.)

Anyway, by Friday night before the ride I had everything ready to go, so that all I needed to do was throw the bike on the car and drive to Sturbridge (at 3:30 AM. Ugh.) Here's a snapshot of the bike, ready to roll:

Saturday at 3:30 AM, the drive to Sturbridge was dark and foggy. In fact, it was so foggy that they delayed the Sturbridge start from 5:30 to 6:00AM, hoping that more of it would get a chance to burn off. I seriously doubt it made any difference. Anyway, the delay just gave folks a little extra time to stretch and chit-chat (as much as a crowd of a couple thousand can 'chit chat', I suppose.)

As you may recall, from previous emails and postings in this blog, I decided to take "passengers" with me on this year's ride. In addition to riding in memory of David Haynes and in support of my little Pedal Partner, Kristen Hoenshell, I asked people to send me pictures of friends or relatives who had fought or were fighting cancer. I carried those pictures with me on the ride, both in tribute to them and as an additional reminder to me of exactly why I was riding. I saw many other people that morning carrying pictures with them -- some on their back, some taped to their handlebars. You can see my "passengers" collage on the back of my bike in the upper picture and a little better in this small image. (Clicking on this small picture will take to you the full-size image where you can see their faces and names more clearly.)

Aside from the heavy fog, the early morning start eastward on Route 20 proceeded pretty much like all the others: a crowded road full of bikers smiling, chattering and full of nervous energy. Route 20 was lined with people clapping, shouting, holding signs and generally making a lot more noise than is usually heard on that stretch of road at that time of day... Quite a spectacle, even from my vantage point in the rolling sea of wheels.

As the morning wore on, the fog burned off, the clouds thinned out and the temperature got up to a respectable 'seasonable summer' level. Close to lunch-time, I was able to meet up with Dave Auclair a few miles before the lunch stop. Dave was my riding buddy when I worked at General Dynamics in Taunton. For the last few years, I always look for Dave when we get close to Dighton/Rehobeth. One of my favorite memories of previous rides is seeing Dave standing in the middle of an intersection, managing traffic so riders could get across safely and quickly. Dave must've looked pretty authoritative (even though he's clearly not a policeman -- standing in the middle of the intersection in shorts and a t-shirt) because the drivers all stopped when he said "Stop". Anyway, this year Dave wasn't directing traffic, and I almost rode right by him. (He was standing on the side of the road waiting but didn't recognize me on my new bike.) I saw him, yelled at him and pulled over. Once he recognized me, Dave hopped on his bike and rode along for a few miles before and after lunch. It was great to see him again and we rode, chatted and caught up on stuff until he finally had to head back home.

Unlike previous years, this year I had an additional appointment to make along the ride. Little Kristen Hoenshell is my PMC "Pedal Partner" for this year's ride. Kristen was diagnosed with rhabdosycroma at about 6 months and has been going into Dana-Farber Jimmy Fund clinic for treatements since then. She's 2 years old and her last checkup was good. Anyway, I was scheduled to meet up with Kristen and her family at the Apponequet ("uh-PON-uh-kwet") High School water stop in Lakeville and was *supposed* to call and let them know when I was within a half hour or so of the stop. However, I managed to forget until I saw the "1 mile" warning sign for the water stop... Uh oh. I immediately called Liz and apologized, hanging up just just about the time I rolled into the parking lot at the school. Thankfully, since Apponequet was the "official" Pedal Partner water stop, there were plenty of activities and refreshments for Kristen and her sisters.

Kristen and her family also got to reunite with a lot of the friends that they'd made on their visits to the Jimmy Fund clinic. As you can probably tell by my "not so fresh" look in this picture, it was getting pretty warm by the time I arrived at Apponequet... Kristen (being held by her Dad in this picture) was also getting tired and ready for a nap. Her sisters -- as well as mom and dad -- were real troopers, hanging in there during the hottest part of the afternoon, waiting for me and her other pedal partners to show. Kristen decided to be shy, so Liz, Frank and I chatted for a bit and then I got back on my way. As usual, I skipped the last water stop and headed straight on to Buzzards Bay, arriving at Mass Maritime Academy at 2:40 PM.

Sandy, Ben and Kevin were once again volunteering at MMA. This year they were helping park the bikes as riders arrived. I met up with them as soon as I got there and again after I showered. Here's a picture of Ben and Kevin "on break" from parking bikes:

Sandy had gotten a little overheated working out in the sun all day without a hat, and was pretty much pooped and ready to head home. So, we talked for a little bit as we walked to the shuttle area, then said our goodbyes for the day.

I must say that I was very impressed with the size and "robustness" of the tents used for the food area at MMA. You may remember that last year's PMC had a really blustery storm that Saturday at Bourne that actually knocked down part of the big "food tent" area and drove people to seek shelter in the buildings on campus. This year the tents were these massive, high-tech-looking things with enormous mast-like poles and cabling. Like so:

Looks like this photo was taken from high up on the ship at the Academy. The big "10 mast tent

tent is the new, improved food tent.

Anyway, after Sandy and the boys left, I had a beer, a massage, (then another beer) and some dinner, and was pretty much done for the day. After walking around a little to loosen up and relax, I took some preventative Ibuprofen then headed to the ship and was in my bunk by 7:30 PM. I'm sure I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

---

Day 2 began when my Blackberry went off at 3:30 AM. I always try to get an early start, but I think I might have overdone it: the night shift volunteers hadn't finished setting up the breakfast area and the luggage trucks hadn't yet arrived, so I couldn't eat and I couldn't ditch my luggage. Fortunately, the fine folks at Dunkin' Donuts had their tables set up and I was able to wiggle my toes in the cool, dewey outfield grass and enjoy a leisurely cup of (early) morning coffee. Once I got some food, dumped my luggage on the truck and aired up my soft rear tire, I was ready to light up my red blinky and set off into the darkness. It was 4:25 AM.

Departing MMA, I ended up following a nice couple on a tandem bike (whose names escape me), since they had much better headlights. (Actually, I didn't have a headlight.) We were the first 3 PMC riders to cross the Bourne Bridge that morning. I know this because the Police made us wait at the bottom of the bridge until they finished putting in all the cones to set up the special lane for the PMC bikes. We loitered there in the dark from 4:30 until about 4:45, when we were finally given the OK to proceed up the Bourne Bridge. As it turned out, with all the aggregate delays that morning I probably could have slept until at least 4 AM and still crossed the bridge at about the same time. Oh well.

Once over the bridge, it was a quick pre-dawn ride along the canal. The towns and countryside along the Cape are so peaceful on an early Sunday morning -- it's my favorite time of the PMC weekend. Even though I had an early start, I am not a fast rider so I was continuously passed during the morning by pace line after pace line. Such is life. I have learned to just enjoy the scenery on the uphills and take the downhills for everything they're worth. I did manage to hang with a short ad-hoc pace line for a while on the Cape Cod Rail Trail in Brewster, and once again between Truro and P-Town.

I ended the ride at the Provincetown "Family Finish" (near the P-Town Monument) at 9:58 AM. Once I parked my bike, I claimed my luggage and had a leisurely shower. About the shower facilities: I don't know where they get these things, but they had the nicest setup for showers. There were 2 large trailers, each outfitted with several full-service shower stalls inside, and a nice mirror/sink setup outside. This was a vast improvement over the group "shower tents" they had a few years back in P-Town. Once showered and shaved, I had plenty of time to relax and get an early lunch.

I was able to walk right onto the "fast ferry" to Boston at noon with my bike & luggage -- no waiting whatsoever. The ride was pleasant and I actually dozed off a couple of times. Sandy met me at the Black Falcon cruise terminal in Boston and drove me home. Once home, I hung the bike in the garage, and started laundry and packing for a business trip to DC the next day -- a somewhat anti-climactic end to an otherwise stellar weekend.

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For the detail-oriented folks out there, I exported my GPS track data for the PMC weekend and made it available on the web.

Elevation Data:

• Day 1 Elevation graph
• Day 2 Elevation graph

Track data, so you can actually "fly over" my entire route in Google Earth:

• Day 1 Track data
• Day 2 Track data

If you don't have it already, Google Earth is free software you can download from http://earth.google.com/

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So, thus ends my 6th PMC trip report. If you've read this far, then God bless you. Your attention span is far better than mine. I will send one more email this year when the final results of the PMC fund-raising are announced. (Should be in a few weeks.)

Finally, I intend to ride in the 2010 PMC next year, so you'll be hearing from me again in 2010. (As always, if you'd prefer not to get my PMC emails, just jot me a quick 'please stop' email and I'll promptly remove you from my email list.)

Thanks one last time to each of you for your support, comments and encouragement.
/doug

Podcast of NPR segment on the PMC

I really do need to get my 2009 wrap-up letter going, and some last-minute thank you's done but wanted to share this link with everyone right quick...

There was a really nice 10-minute piece on NPR this weekend about the PMC. The podcast is available and here's a link that'll take you to a it (it's an audio file that *should* start playing immediately -- depending on your browser -- so make sure you have speakers or headphones on..

http://www.pmc.org/articles.asp?ArticleID=1497

/doug

Done. No flats; no wrecks; 2 cramps.

Well, the ride is over.

The weather cooperated, the people were all wonderful and the experience was as uplifting as usual. I will post a full run-down on the weekend later, but am pressed for time as I'm out on business all week.

Thanks everyone for your support and interest, and will be back with more details in a week or so.

/doug

Ready to Roll.

Back from NH yesterday afternoon. Got the bike cleaned and prepped for the ride. The rear wheel needed to be trued (warped a little from the severe braking on the downhills in NH) and I located the slow leaks and replenished my stock of tubes...

Sandy lamintated my "passengers" collage so that it would hopefully hold up better over the weekend, and I was able to attach it to my bike 'trunk'. Like so:

In case you were wondering what I carry with me, here's a pic that show the "junk in my trunk":

Clockwise from 12:00: the red bandana is holding 3 CO2 cartridges and an inflator (tomorrow my camelbak bladder will go where the bandana is); GPS; SPF50 sunblock, Schrade multi-tool; red blinky, Topeak multi-tool, tubes (3, hidden from view) and 1st aid kit. Blackberry and extra batteries will be thrown in tomorrow.

So, it's time for bed. If you're on teh interwebs this weekend, you can check my location during the ride at this link: http://ixen.com/where-is-doug

Good night.

So long to the White Mountains...Counting the hours.

Today we pack up, say goodbye to the White Mountains and head back home to Littleton. Never seem to stay quite long enough up here, but we have to get laundry done and prep for PMC weekend. Rear tire has developed a chronic slow leak up here in NH, so will need to replace that tomorrow, and remember to pack extra tubes & CO2.

I didn't log as many miles as I probably should have up here, but the time spent with Sandy and the boys was really good. Hopefully, the weather will hold and I won't cramp up this weekend.

I have to say that I'm flabbergasted at how generous everyone has been this year in donations for the Jimmy Fund. I had fully expected this to be an exceptionally lean year for the PMC. As it turns out, it's been a record-breaking year for me: your donations have exceeded my initial goals for the first time in six years of riding the PMC! THANK YOU ALL. Over the last week there's been an influx of donations and I haven't had time to get back to everyone with a thank you note yet. I will.

Thanks. Gotta go pack now.

/doug

Greetings from Franconia Notch, NH! Training continues...

Only 6 days left until the Big Ride! Fund raising has been proceeding apace and the family is in the Franconia Notch area of the White Mountains of NH for a week.

It's beautiful up here, but the weather is being a little contrary. I managed to get in a 25mi "down and back" ride down from our place at Mittersill down the bike trail/rt 3 to N. Woodstock. It's a really fun ride; the ride down is mostly downhill (top speed was 46 mph from "The Flume" to Lincoln on rt 3). The ride back up is not for impatient... As such, I made my usual stop at the Woodstock Inn to rebalance my electrolytes -- I highly recommend the Red Rack Ale -- and grab a bite before heading home.

On the long hill back up out of Lincoln I caught up with a couple on bikes up from CT for the week. They were diligently pedaling up to The Flume. Turns out the husband had a recumbent bike sort of like mine at home (a Linear, see http://www.linearrecumbent.com/) -- but he couldn't ride it with his wife since always worried about him crashing on it. I shared a little joke with him: since I was riding my R40 (with the underseat steering) and was already "over my handlebars", the 2nd scariest part of any crash was always over and out of the way... His wife was not amused. I will never understand women.

Further up the trail, most of the way to Cannon Mountain, I came across a family stopped alongside the trail, looking concerned back at the Dad. Turned out that Dad's rear brake pad was flopping loose and he was trying to figure out how to tighten it -- not possible without an allen wrench. Since I never go for rides any more without tools, tubes and CO2, I was able to fix his brake and get them on their way. I told them it was a good thing they stopped, because they were really going to need their brakes in about 1/2 mile or so. (There are some steep, curvy hills on that bike trail, and it's easy to let your bike get going too fast and run off the trail or worse yet hit some other biker or hiker.) Also reminded them to give the bike rental place a real good talkin-to when they picked then up at the bottom of the trail, since brakes should have been *thoroughly* checked out for them when they rented them at Cannon Mountain. That was my good deed for the week. I still made it back to the timeshare in time for Mojitos and book time by the pool...

Planned a big ride on the Bacchetta this AM, but only got out about 10mi before I called it quits. The weather was just not cooperating today: drizzly, winds gusting to 20mph, and threats of hail in Franconia. I just stayed out long enough to get the Bacchetta wet and gunky from the road. I spent more time cleaning it up than riding today... Tomorrow will be the big ride, whatever the weather.

Sandy laminated my "passengers" pictures so they'll make it through the PMC OK, no matter what the weather. When we get back home, I'll try to post a picture here of the bke with my "passengers" in place and ready to go.

I know I've said it before, but will keep saying it: thanks to all of you for your support for the PMC and cancer research & treatment. With your help we really do keep getting closer by the mile. Thanks

/doug

Getting close to the ride... last call for "passenger pics"

So, we're down to just about 2 weeks until the PMC weekend.

This will have to be the last call for "passenger pictures". (See my previous post on this: if there's someone that you want me to ride in support of or remembrance of, email me their picture and I will carry them along the ride with me.)

I wish I'd gotten in more big rides this season... Looks like my training "taper" will come a little late. Will be in the White Mountains the week before the PMC with the family, trying to log as many miles as possible before the actual PMC.

Take care.

/doug

PMC Night at Fenway Park.

It was "PMC Night" at Fenway Park on Sat. I didn't go, but the Sox did fine without me, blanking th KC Royals... :-)

Anyway, here's a quick video from NECN of this year's PMC night:

Where's Doug ?

I've been playing with the new Google Latitude service via my Blackberry for the last few months, and have found it works pretty well -- well enough that I'm willing to plug it here. "Latitude" is a google offering that allows you to share your physical location with people via the web via your cell phone.

In fact, it works well enough that I intend to take my Blackberry along for this years PMC so anyone who is so inclined will be able to see my progress along the route via the web.

For example, if you wanted to know where I am (or more precisely: where my phone is) right now, you can go to http://www.ixen.com/where-is-doug , and you'll see my icon (StrongBad) overlayed on a (static) google map image.

It's a little silly, and not exactly as thrilling as a "live helmet-cam video feed" would be... but it's free and I thought I'd throw it out there for your entertainment -- and mine. ;-)

/doug

PMC Goal for 2009: $30M

A little less than 2 weeks ago, the PMC announced that the fundraising goal for this year's efforts is $30 million. That sounds like -- and is -- a lot of money. But it's actually 14% less than last year's results and even less than the last 2 preceding years as well.

"It's not going to be easy," said Billy Starr, PMC Executive Director, "but the PMC has never been about the easy path. People recognize that cancer does not know recession and it is critical to sustain cutting edge research and treatment at Dana-Farber. Regardless of the economy, we are all in this war on cancer together."

Clearly, this last year has been an rough one, economically and fundraisers like the PMC are by no means immune from economic realities. One indicator of this for the PMC is this: for the first time in five years, here in mid-June there are still slots available for the two-day routes -- those with the highest fund-raising commitment level. Those routes have typically filled up within the first 2 weeks in past years.

Regardless, this year's overall goal is set. My personal goal is to raise $5,000, exceeding my $4,200 minium and achieving a 6-year personal best. For those of you who have donated, I can't thank you enough. If you've been thinking about donating but haven't yet, now would be a fine time to do so, by simply clicking here. Your financial support is what makes the cancer treatment and research at Dana-Farber possible.

Thanks for taking the time to follow along with me.

/doug

Littleton Kids PMC last weekend (5/31/09)

Last weekend (Sunday, 5/31) was the Littleton Kids PMC Ride. The Kids PMC helps get kids excited and includes them in the PMC mission of raising awareness and money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber. There are more than 30 different Kids PMC rides across MA, NH and RI, each organized per-community by local volunteers. I think it's great because the kids get to help others, have some fun and learn a little bike safety, too.

Sunday morning was gorgeous and the weather could not have been any more cooperative. The event took place in the IBM parking lot in town, with several different loops set up to accomodate everything from "tykes on trikes" to kids with more experience riding. I was a "floating volunteer" for the day which meant that I basically walked around and did whatever needed doing then and there. At the start of the day, I helped set up shade tents, and as the kids started arriving I herded them from registration to their bike/helmet safety check. Once the kids were 'sorted out' to their appropriate loops, the event was on! I ended up monitoring the far end of the 'advanced loop' for the older kids, trying to keep them from cutting each other off in the turns, etc. It was a little hairy at first, with the kids "bunched up", but eventually they spread out, calmed down and my heartrate started to go back to normall. I only witnessed one boo-boo the entire day. It was a little boy and he just "went over". He was a little surprised, but just shook it off and walked off with his parents -- no blood or tears. (*whew*)

My Pedal Partner, Kristen Hoenshell, and her entire family were there. Kristen's a little young for trike yet, so she just hung around with her mom, dad or grandparents. Her sisters Cathryn and Hannah both rode, however. I lost them in the crowd after the rides started, but I'm pretty sure they had a good time.

There was lots going on besides kids riding around on bikes. There was a DJ with music and several raffles for prizes -- everything from helmets for the kids to Red Sox tickets. There was also the annual "touch a truck" event. The Littleton touch-a-truck event is a chance for the kids to get "up close and personal" with fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and wide selection of enormouse construction vehicles. The kids can actually get in the vehicles, talk to the men and women who operate them and even blow the horns. (That got old pretty quick, believe me.)

The entire thing was over and done by 1PM. At the end of the day the Littleton Kids PMC had raised more than $6,000. I rode my bike home, and still had time to finish my weekend chores !

ttyl

/doug

My passengers for this year's ride -- so far...

FYI, here's the collage of my "passengers" for this years PMC. These are pictures of some of the people I'm riding for -- and now I'll be riding with them (sort of).

There's still more room on the bike, so please don't be shy: if you know someone who has fought/is fighting cancer, or if there's someone you've lost to cancer, then send me their picture. I'd love to take them along with me.

/doug

Training Update...70mi ride to Needham

Just a quick training update... While I was off last week I decided to bike out to Needham to the PMC headquarters and pick up my Thank You cards.

It was about a 70mi round trip ride, and I couldn't have asked for better weather. I'd forgotten how beautiful route 27 is down around Wayland/Sudbury. Once again, the curious among you can check out my GPS tracklog for the ride on Google Earth by downloading this file. If you use the "street view" features, it's almost like being there. ;-)

Remember: I'm still collecting "passenger" pictures for this year's ride. If you know someone who's fought/is fighting cancer, or if there's someone you've lost to cancer, please send me their picture and I'll take them on the ride with me.

/doug

For those with Google Earth: The PMC 2-Day Route

People often ask me about the route that everyone rides on the PMC. I can only speak about the "classic" 2-day ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown, since that's the only route I've ridden.

On last year's PMC, I took my GPS along so that I'd have a log of the ride with actual elevation, speed and waypoints for later review.

If you have a little curiosity, some free time and Google Earth on your PC (and you should -- it's free and incredibly cool), you can download and view my GPS waypoints and "virtually ride" the route via Google Earth.. I split the track log into 2 files: one for Day 1 (Sturbridge to Bourne -- about 111 miles) and one for Day 2 (Bourne to Provincetown -- about 82 miles).

Click here for Day 1

Click here for Day 2.

I don't know if the 2009 2-day route is substantially different. They change a little from year to year. Anyway... just thought I'd make those links available for the curious.

TTYL!

/doug

My Pedal Partner

As I mentioned in a previous post,  I have a "Pedal Partner" for this year's PMC:  little Kristen Hoenshell from my very own Littleton.   You can read about the Pedal Partner program on the PMC website, so I won't re-type it all here.

On Saturday May 2, the PMC hosted a "meet-n-greet" at Fenway Park for the Jimmy Fund clinic pediatric oncology patients and their riders.  Kristen and her mom, Elizabeth, came out that morning to Fenway for the event.    It was the first time I'd seen Kristen in person.  She is a full-on cutie.  

I didn't know what to expect and was completely unprepared.  I didn't even think to bring a camera.  Oh well.   Elizabeth and I chatted while Kristen scoped out the area.  She (Kristen) went climbing through the bleachers, and unnerved her mom a little. (We were up high behind home plate near the State Street Pavillion, so it's a ways up.)    Stacey Lucchino, PMC rider and organizer (and wife of Red Sox President &CEO Larry Lucchino)  spoke for bit, as well as Billy Starr.   But the most memorable speaker was Matt Bodenrader: a former Jimmy Fund patient and Pedal Partner who's now a PMC rider in his fourth PMC.

There's a good summary of the Pedal Partner Party on the PMC blog, with additional pictures.   I felt a little awkward, since most of the kids were paired up with actual bike teams -- but I'm a "team of one".   Kristen was very gracious and didn't seem to mind..  :-)

Anyway, check out the PMC web site and blog (above links in this post)  for more (and better-written) info.  

/doug

You never know how things are going to play out...

You can never know how things are going to play out.
This year I'm riding in honor of Dave Haynes, a family friend who passed away from cancer this spring. That was my plan when Sandy and I went to Dave's wake. That was where I met Liz Hoenshell and her mother and listened their stories. (I won't recount all of that in this post -- it's in the previous one.)

At that point, things changed a little. I figured that Dave wouldn't mind if I also rode in support of little Kristen H. on this year's ride as well. So: for the first time in 6 years of riding the PMC, I will also be riding with Kristen Hoenshell as my PMC "Pedal Partner". The Pedal Partner program is a one that the PMC has developed to pair up young patients at the Jimmy Fund clinic with riders and teams to personally involve those patients with the PMC and motivate riders. (I'll write a little more on the PMC Pedal Partner program later.)

Of course, time passed and things changed again. The more I emailed and talked with people for this year's PMC, the more personal stories I heard about people who are fighting/have fought cancer. Some stories end better than others, but they are all memorable -- some heart-wrenching, some beautiful, but all memorable. Then I started thinking, "Maybe I could carry a few 'passengers' on the PMC with me too..."

So, in addition to riding in memory of Dave Haynes and in support of Kristen Hoenshell, I started asking the people with their "cancer stories" to send me a picture of their friend/family member/self so that I could *virtually* take them along with me on my PMC ride. As it works out, I'll now have a picture of Dave Haynes making the ride with me, as well as a few others for company.

Then I thought, "In for a penny, in for a pound," so now I'm using this forum to extend my offer a little wider: if you or someone you know or love has fought or is fighting cancer, tell me your story and send me a picture. I'll add them to my "passengers" for this years' ride. I haven't figured out exactly how I'll carry/display my the pictures I collect, but I have a little while to work on it...

That's all for now.
/doug

In Memory of David Haynes

Below is a copy of the email that I sent this year to "kick off" my fund-raising for this year's Pan Mass Challenge.    This year, I'm riding in memory of David Haynes -- whom I rode for last year.  David passed away this Spring and he is missed by all.   

/doug

---

Hi,

I'll get to the point immediately:  I'm writing you to ask for your support for this year's Pan Mass Challenge for the Jimmy Fund.  The Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) is a 192-mile, 2-day bike ride to raise money for the Jimmy Fund.  (The Jimmy Fund supports cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber in Boston.)  My fundraising commitment for this year is $4,200 and I am looking to your support to help me meet -- and hopefully exceed that amount.

Some of you may recall that for last year's PMC I rode in support of David Haynes, a family friend who's been battling cancer since 2004. On February 25, David finally lost that battle and passed away. He is deeply missed by his family and friends, and I will sadly -- but very proudly -- be riding in his memory this year.

I started drafting this email in early February, not knowing the seriousness of Dave's condition.  It was a little surprising just how unprepared I was to deal with his death.  I couldn't bring myself to work on this letter any more... just couldn't seem to get the words out. Then Sandy and I went to Dave's wake and something happened.

There at Dave's wake, Sandy and I ended up speaking with Elizabeth Hoenshell, another friend of the family.  Elizabeth shared with us how her youngest daughter Kristen had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer last Spring, and had been undergoing chemo treatments at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute down near Fenway in Boston. And Kristen isn't even yet 18 months old.  Elizabeth shared with Sandy and me about the amazing level of care, attention and sensitivity that she and her family received from the staff at Dana-Farber.  At the time, I believe Kristen was due for one more round of chemo.  Almost before that could sink in, Elizabeth then proceeded to introduce us to her mother, standing near us: a cancer survivor and former Dana-Farber patient.

The entire experience was simultaneously heart-breaking and uplifting -- and it shook loose whatever it was that was keeping me from finishing this letter. Standing in the room face-to-face with two more "living proof" stories at David's house, I could feel the wind come back into my sails.  So, with a renewed sense of purpose and vigor that I write this.  Come the weekend of August 1st, I'll once again set off peddling that 192 miles in memory of David -- and with great hope for Kristen and her family.  I sincerely hope that you will be able to help.

Your support is absolutely vital to help Dana-Farber continue their fine work in cancer research and treatment.  It's working.  Since 1988, two out of every three children who enter the Jimmy Fund Clinic are cured and survival rates for localized breast cancers have steadily increased to almost 98%.  Breakthroughs in detection, diagnosis and treatment would not have been possible without the support of people like you and me.  So please, support me on this year's 2-day ride with as generous a donation as you can.  You can also be very proud of the fact that 100 percent of your donation goes directly to the Jimmy Fund.

By far, the quickest and easiest way to help is to donate on-line using your credit card.  Just follow this link the PMC website: https://donate.pmc.org/dm0192  and follow the instructions there.  The transaction is secure and far and away the most convenient and efficient way to donate. While you're at the PMC web site, stop and look around! You'll be amazed.

If you'd prefer to donate by check, then please make it payable to "PMC - Jimmy Fund" and mail it to me at the address below and I'll take care of the rest:

Doug McPherson
13 Marble Farm Road     

Maynard, MA 01754

...or just hit *reply* to this email and I'll send your a pre-addressed stamped envelope to you right away.

Once again, I appreciate your support on this, but if you'd rather not receive these emails any more, simply reply with "unsubscribe" and I will take you off my list, no questions.

Thanks very much,
/doug

 

Getting started is always the hardest part.

Hi. This year will be my 6th year riding in the Pan Mass Challenge, and I've decided that I'd try to see if I could augment my fund-raising & awareness approach with a "blog".  Please bear with me, I'm trying to get used to this idea. 

I'll try to make good use of this chunk of cyberspace as well as your time.

If you're tuning in here, then thanks for stopping by. Remember, you can help us fight cancer with your donation to the Jimmy Fund.